Package

ABSTRACT

A package ( 10 ) can support separate groups of cigarettes ( 12, 13 ) by an inner frame ( 14 ) which has a central fold or pleat ( 28 ) to locate the groups. A common single barrier layer wrapper ( 16 ) surrounds the groups. The package ( 10 ) may be contained in a sleeve-like shell ( 240 ) to form a packet similar to a slide and shell packet. Also disclosed is a package  410  which has a disposable cover ( 424 ) for an access aperture, the cover having a lower edge ( 424 B) which is inclined, curved or otherwise non-alignment to make minor differences in position of the edge lens noticeable.

[0001] This invention relates to a package, particularly but not exclusively including or containing groups of rod-like articles of the tobacco industry such as cigarettes or cigarette filter rods.

[0002] In WO 01/15975, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety, there is disclosed a packaging system in which cigarette packages having wrapper material comprising a sealed barrier layer, which may comprise a metalised plastics laminate, is formed around a group of cigarettes partly surrounded by an inner frame. The system produces packages along two paths, for subsequent delivery to a process in which one package from each path is enclosed in a common package, which may conveniently comprise a slide and shell packet. The packages delivered to this common package may be similar in form to those disclosed in WO 98/22367 or WO 98/22368, to which reference is directed for further details.

[0003] According to one aspect of the invention a package comprises first and second articles, an inner frame at least partly surrounding each article, and a sealed outer wrapper surrounding the articles and inner frame. The inner frame preferably includes means for separating the articles, which may comprise a pleat, fold or other formation in or carried on the inner frame. Each of the articles may itself comprise a group of articles, eg rod-like articles, and in a preferred construction separate groups of rod-like articles are supported in separate locations by a common inner frame. Preferably the outer wrapper includes at least one aperture cut or line of weakening or other means of access to the articles, and preferably there are separate such means affording access to each of said articles or group of articles. The or each access means may comprise a label or similar means adhesively secured over an access aperture or means defining an access aperture in the wrapper. The package could be a self-contained consumer product, with or without further over wrap, or could be contained within a slide and shell or hinged lid packet. As compared with the product contemplated by said WO 01/15975, in which two sealed packages are incorporated in a common package, the package according to the present invention employs less wrapper material by having a common outer wrapper. An additional benefit is that instead of handling separate inner frames for each article a common inner frame with a pleat, fold or other formation may be used.

[0004] According to another aspect of the invention a package comprises at least one article including or incorporating a frame, and a sleeve-like outer portion in which the article is contained. Thus the package may be similar to and operate in substantially the same way as a slide and shell packet, the frame providing for the article such rigidity as is required to operate as a slide. The article may comprise one or more packages each containing at least one group of cigarettes and at least one inner frame at least partially supporting the group. In an alternative form of package the article is disposed in the sleeve-like portion on a slide having a base and either no or reduced height and/or width side flaps. Again, the integrity of the article or articles within the sleeve is maintained by the frame (or frames) such that, unlike a conventional slide and shell packet, even if a slide is provided it need not have sides as are necessary with articles such as foil wrapped groups of cigarettes not having an inner frame. Where there are two articles within the package there may be separate or common slides, of either conventional form or with no or reduced-size side flaps as mentioned above (or there may be no slide).

[0005] According to a further aspect of the invention a package, particularly for groups of rod-like articles, comprises a wrapper or other container having an access aperture disposed adjacent one end of the container and a displaceable cover providing for access to the package contents through said aperture, the cover having an edge defining a line which is not parallel to an opposite end of the article and/or not disposed in alignment with a corresponding line defined by the corresponding edge of the cover of a similar package disposed in abutment and alignment with said package. In particular the package may comprise a package of the kind disclosed in said WO 01/15975, or in said WO 98/22367 or WO 98/22368, having a container comprising a wrapper forming a sealed barrier layer and a cover comprising a label adhesively secured over an aperture cut in the wrapper. By providing that the cover has a non-parallel edge as defined any slight variations in position of or misalignment in application of the covers, as may be inevitable in high speed production of packages, becomes less visible, particularly from comparison of adjacent packages. The edge may be inclined, angled, curved or of any other irregular or other non-parallel shape. Where the package is contained within another container, eg a slide and shell packet or a hinged lid packet, the non-parallel edge is beneficial in that any differnces in positions of the appropriate edges of the covers, which might otherwise be apparent, particularly where multiple packages are arranged adjacent each other, or where that edge or those edges may lie adjacent a line or edge of the packet which may be used as a reference for comparison of the position of the edge and so emphasise any differences between positions of such edges between packages or in adjacent packages, becomes less apparent Where the package is generally parallelipedal in shape said line is preferably not parallel nor perpendicular to any of the edges of the face of the package in or on which the line lies.

[0006] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with particular reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings (which are not to scale), in which:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a side view of a cigarette package,

[0008]FIG. 2 is a side view of the package of FIG. 1, in open condition,

[0009]FIG. 3 is a view in the direction of arrow III in FIG. 2,

[0010]FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line IV-IV in FIG. 2,

[0011]FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank for an inner frame for the package of FIG. 1,

[0012]FIG. 6 is a side view of another cigarette package,

[0013]FIG. 7 is a view in the direction of VII in FIG. 6,

[0014] FIGS. 8A-8C are side views of slightly different samples of a further cigarette package,

[0015] FIGS. 9A-9C are side views of slightly different samples of a still further cigarette package,

[0016] FIGS. 10-13 are side views of yet further cigarette packages,

[0017]FIG. 14 is a plan view of a blank for a slide for the package of FIGS. 8A-8C, and

[0018]FIG. 15 is a side view of a further package, incorporating the package of FIG. 1.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a package 10 comprises two separate groups 12, 13 of cigarettes respectively containing twelve and thirteen cigarettes partially surrounded and located by a card inner frame 14, the cigarettes and inner frame being enclosed in a wrapper section 16. The wrapper section 16 comprises a barrier layer panel 18 formed of a heat-sealable metalised plastics laminate which is formed with two aperture cuts 20, 22 respectively covered by labels 24, 26, which may also be of metalised plastics laminate material. The labels 24, 26 are respectively adhesively secured to the portions of the panel 18 within the aperture cuts 20, 22, so that the labels may be raised to provide access apertures to the cigarettes, as indicated in FIG. 2. Each of the labels 24, 26 has a tab portion 24A, 26A, which is not adhesively secured to the panel 18, thereby allowing easier grasping for opening by a consumer, the remainder of the inner face of each label being provided with reusable adhesive so that it may be resealed over its respective aperture. The package 10 has substantial similarities with packages disclosed in said WO 98/22367 and WO 98/22368, and also WO 01/15975. Reference is directed to each of these for further details applicable to the present package.

[0020] As may best be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, the groups 12 and 13 are is separated by a pleated or folded portion 28 of the inner frame 14. Thus, the inner frame 14 corresponds to two such inner frames as shown in FIG. 4 of said WO 01/15975 or FIGS. 13 and 14 of said WO 98/22368 joined together along a central fold line of the portion 28. Other basic shapes of inner frame as disclosed in said WO 98/22368 could be used.

[0021] The groups of cigarettes 12, 13 could be assembled in apparatus as disclosed in said WO 01/15975, and the wrapping of the groups achieved in an analogous way, it being understood that the wrapper sections 16 are obtained from a web of increased width appropriately formed with the laterally-spaced aperture cuts 20, 22 over which are placed the laterally-spaced labels 24, 26.

[0022] The package 110 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of said WO 01/15975 and comprises a group of cigarettes partially surrounded by a card inner frame 114 and enclosed in a wrapper section 116 having a panel 118 including an aperture cut 120 and label 124 adhesively secured to the panel. As before, the material of the panel 118 and label 124 is metalised plastics laminate, so that in the completed package the wrapper section 116 forms a barrier layer. The inner frame 114 is substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 3 of said WO 01/15975, and is similar to one of the similarly-shaped portions of the inner frame 14 on each side of the fold line of the portion 28.

[0023] A package 210 comprising a pair of packages 110 contained in a rectangular sleeve or shell 240 is shown in FIG. 8A. The package 210 is similar in construction to a slide and shell packet, which may incorporate single or double bundles of cigarettes. In conventional slide and shell packages as used in the tobacco industry the cigarette bundle or bundles are supported on a slide comprising a card base panel and side and end flaps, which slide is slidable in the shell to allow access to the contents. As each of the cigarette packages 110 already incorporates a supporting inner frame 114, the cigarette groups within the packages are sufficiently well-supported to allow the packages 110 to be slidable within the shell 240 without the necessity for a separate slide. Although the package 210 includes two packages 110, clearly a similar package, without a separate slide, could accommodate and be appropriately dimensioned to include only a single package 110.

[0024] Although the package 210 has no need for a separate slide, such may be provided, as shown in FIG. 14, which illustrates a blank 260 for a slide for use in the package. The blank 260, which is made from suitable card material, comprises a base 262 and fold lines 264 defining end flaps 266 each incorporating a further fold line 268 defining a tuck-in flap 270. In use, the packages 110 are disposed alongside each other on the base 262 within the shell 240 and the end flaps 266 folded to lie perpendicular to the base and the tuck-in flaps 270 folded inwards to lie perpendicular to the end flaps so as to overlie the end portions of the packages within the shell. It will be appreciated that pushing on either end flap will move the whole slide and the contained packages 110 to release the opposite end flap and expose the packages 110 for access beyond the opposite end of the shell 240. The slide formed from the blank 260 differs from conventional slides in that it lacks side flaps (these being absent because the packages 110 have lateral stability at least because of the presence of the inner frame 114); however, side flaps 274 could be provided, as indicated in FIG. 14. In this case the side flaps 274 would be folded about fold lines located in positions corresponding to the side edges of the blank 260 and would lie alongside the outer sides of the packages 110 in the shell 240. The side flaps 274 need not be the full height or width of the corresponding sides of the packages 110 and shell 240, as indicated by the alternative smaller side flaps 274A shown in FIG. 14.

[0025] In the package 210 shown in FIG. 8A the packages 110 are shown in positions where each has been slid upwards into a position to expose the label 124 to allow access to the package contents. Clearly where no slide 260 is present it is not necessary to slide both packages into exposed positions to gain access to the contents of only one, but it may be natural to do so and where such a slide is present then both packages will be advanced as shown. In the positions shown in FIG. 8A, whether or not a slide is present, each of the lower edges 124B of the tab portions 124A of the labels. 124, which need to be exposed to allow access, lies close to and substantially parallel to the corresponding end edge 240A of the shell 240. It will be appreciated that in a high speed manufacturing process such as is utilised for production of the packages 110 it is not possible to guarantee that the labels 124 are applied to individual packages in precisely corresponding positions. For example, it may be that the longitudinal positions may vary by up to ±1 mm. In individual packages 110 such variations have been found to be acceptable but where two packages are arranged alongside each other and are disposed adjacent a reference line (such as the edge 240A) any disparity in positioning of the labels on the packages becomes apparent, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, which respectively show differences in positions of the labels of the adjacent packages corresponding to ±0.5 mm and ±1 mm (at full scale), and may be unacceptable.

[0026] FIGS. 9A-9C show an alternative package 310 containing packages 410 otherwise similar to the packages 110 but having labels 424 having an inclined lower edge 424B which is non-parallel to the adjacent edge 340A of the shell 340 of the package 310. As may be seen from FIGS. 9B and 9C, which show samples of the package 310 with adjacent packages 410 having labels 424 which differ in position by the same amounts as the corresponding labels in the samples shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the visual effects of such differences with the style of label 424 is significantly reduced, to the extent that products similar to those of FIG. 9C, for example, may be acceptable to product quality control standards, whereas products similar to that of FIG. 8C may not.

[0027] The non-parallel extent of the edges 424B and 340A serves to lessen the visual impact of any difference in position of the respective edges in different packages. More generally, the extent of the edge 424B in a direction which is other than parallel or perpendicular to a side face of the package is beneficial, particularly where adjacent packages are likely to be compared. FIGS. 10-13 show an alternative style of package 510 containing respectively different forms of package 610-910 otherwise similar to the package 110 but having labels 624-924 each having respective lower edges 624B-924B which are substantially non-parallel to the adjacent upper edge 540A of the package 510. It follows also that the edges 624B-924B do not have substantial portions which would be in alignment in adjacent aligned and/or abutting packages.

[0028] The label 624 of FIG. 10 includes a lower edge 624B which is curved as shown. The label 724 in FIG. 11 has a curved lower edge 724B, differing its shape to that of the edge 624B, and additionally has curved sides. The package 710 also includes a corresponding curved aperture cut 720. The package 810 in FIG. 12 has an angled label 824 (itself substantially similar to the label 124) and a correspondingly angled aperture cut 820. The package 910 of FIG. 13 has a label 924 with an angled lower edge 924B and angled sides, disposed over a relatively straight aperture cut 920.

[0029] The package 510 may be similar to the package 310, except that it contains only a single package similar to the package 110. It will be appreciated that even though additional benefit is derived by-use of labels having non-parallel edges as disclosed where adjacent packages are contained in a common package such as 310, there are still benefits in use of such labels for individual packages 510, particularly where such packages are sold in groups (eg in a carton) where two or more packages may readily be compared. In this respect note that the package 510 could be a hinged lid package (instead of a slide and shell package) containing the respective packages 610-910 (the lids not being shown in FIGS. 10-13). Any of the packages 610-910 could be substituted for the packages 110 or 410 in FIGS. 8A-8C or FIGS. 9A-9C.

[0030]FIG. 15 shows a package 210 containing a package 10 of the form shown in FIGS. 1-5. The package 210 includes a shell 240 similar to that shown in FIG. 8A and may but need not include a slide similar to that shown in FIG. 14, and may incorporate any of the disclosed modifications of that package and/or slide. 

1. A package comprising first and second articles, an inner frame at least partly surrounding each article, and a sealed outer wrapper surrounding the articles and inner frame.
 2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the inner frame includes means for separating the articles.
 3. A package according to claim 2, wherein the separating means comprises a pleat, fold or other formation in or carried on the inner frame.
 4. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the articles itself comprises a group of articles, e.g. rod-like articles.
 5. A package according to claim 4, wherein separate groups of rod-like articles are supported in separate locations by a common inner frame.
 6. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer wrapper includes at least one aperture cut or line of weakening or other means of access to the articles.
 7. A package according to claim 6, wherein there are separate means of access affording access to each of said articles or group of articles.
 8. A package according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the or each access means comprises a label or similar means adhesively secured over an access aperture or means defining an access aperture in the wrapper.
 9. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the package is a self-contained consumer product, with or without further over wrap, or is contained within a slide and shell or hinged lid packet.
 10. A package comprising at least one article including or incorporating a frame, and a sleeve-like outer portion in which the article is contained.
 11. A package according to claim 10, wherein the article comprises one or more packages each containing at least one group of cigarettes and at least one inner frame at least partially supporting the group.
 12. A package according to claim 10, wherein the article is disposed in the sleeve-like portion on a slide having a base and either no or reduced height and/or width side flaps.
 13. A package, particularly for groups of rod-like articles, comprising a wrapper or other container having an access aperture disposed adjacent one end of the container and a displaceable cover providing for access to the package contents through said aperture, the cover having an edge defining a line which is not parallel to an opposite end of the article and/or not disposed in alignment with a corresponding line defined by the corresponding edge of the cover of a similar package disposed in abutment and alignment with said package.
 14. A package according to claim 13, wherein the package comprises a package of the kind disclosed in WO 01/15957, or in said WO 98/22367 or WO 98/22368, having a container comprising a wrapper forming a sealed barrier layer and a cover comprising a label adhesively secured over an aperture cut in the wrapper.
 15. A package according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the edge is inclined, angles, curved or of any other irregular or other non-parallel shape. 